Department of Historic Records approves Hayden Marker
Published 6:16 pm Tuesday, June 25, 2019
KENYA SMITH/STAFF WRITER
FRANKLIN
The Franklin City Public School Board during last week’s meeting said the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has approved the Della Irving Hayden highway marker. Della Irving Hayden was a local educator in the African-American community. She attended school in Franklin and furthered her education at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (later Hampton University), where she graduated from in 1877. Twenty-seven years later, Hayden founded the Franklin Normal and Industrial Institute. The school name was later changed to Hayden High School in honor of the late educator. Interim chairwoman Andrea Hall-Leonard acknowledged former school board representative of Ward 5 Jessica Grant for initiating the creation of the historical marker.
“I just want to thank Ms. Grant for collaborating with the Hayden Group and making sure that we had support from our city manager and mayor for the creation of the Hayden historical marker. We are very excited,” Hall-Leonard said, “It’s a good day to be in Franklin and good news for the citizens of Franklin.”
Generally, the sign will take two months for it to be manufactured and delivered, and time is needed for installation.
The school board also acknowledged the students who participated in sports and activities in the Virginia High School League for the 2018-2019 school year. One sixty-three out of 281 students participated in at least 1 VHSL sport or activity. Fifty-eight percent of all students directly benefited from membership in VHSL.
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In other school news, the school board approved a few items during Thursday night’s meeting. The first item was a purchase order in the amount of $16,912 for upgrading the fiber optics of the internet and telephones for all three schools. The funds for the upgrade will be taken out of next year’s budget.
Next was the approval of the authorization to sign in absence of the superintendent. This will authorize Felicia Burkhalter, the school board’s instruction director, to sign documents if the superintendent is unavailable. The board also approved the services agreement from the Virginia School Board Association. Under the agreement, the school board will pay $2,100 for services. The American Red Cross Facility Use agreement was also approved. This will allow the Red Cross to use facilities to provide services during a disaster.
The board approved an overnight field trip request from Franklin High School’s cheerleading squad. The trip is from July 29-30 to the Universal Cheerleaders Association Camp at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.
Lastly, the board approved the utilization of the Access College. The school district will have a Access College coordinator who will help students prepare for college by providing information on scholarships and other academic-based aid, assistance on FAFSA applications and tours to various colleges.
The board also presented the dates and locations for the summer feeding program. The dates and locations are as follows:
• Site MLK Center Target Group – Public
Date: June 24-Aug. 30
Mondays – Fridays: Lunch and snacks provided
• Site: S.P. Morton Elementary School Target Group – Boys and Girls Club
Date: June 17-Aug. 16
Monday – Thursday: Lunch and snacks provided
Fridays: Site: MLK Center – Lunch and snacks provided & food provided by the Foodbank
• Site: J.P. King, Jr. Middle School Target Group – Summer School
Date: June 24-July 23
Mondays – Thursdays: Snacks provided & food provided by Cover3 Foundation
• Site: Paul D Camp Community College Target Group – Upward Bound Program
Date: June 17-July 23
Mondays – Fridays: Lunch and snacks provided
• Site: YMCA
Date: June 17-Aug. 30
Mondays – Fridays: Lunch and snacks provided
